First Day of School

Last Friday was our first day of our homeschooling group.  Oh, how wonderful it was to be back!  I'm glad we could still have some "first day" excitement with new backpacks, new outfits, nervousness, and looking forward to seeing old friends.

This will be our second year to participate in a local Classical Conversations (CC) program.  It has been the perfect offering for us in this stage of life.  It promotes community, Godly characteristics, and an excellent foundation.  It is the only program in our area that invites participation for 4 year olds.  Last year, we were desperate to meet others on this journey and to start making homeschooling friends.  The basic program meets every Friday from 9-12, with the option for more after lunch.  A parent is required to stay on campus, which really promotes the community.  Families really get to know each other, as this isn't a drop-off program.  There is even a nursery for the younger ones, which is such a blessing for Olivia, as she feel she goes to "school" as well.

Days start with a group meeting, announcements, and the pledge.  We break into smaller groups for memory work, fine arts, science, and presentations.  Every week last year, Emily got up in front of her class and gave a presentation.  I just wonder what this will do for her public speaking skills!  Hopefully, it won't ever seem as intimidating as it does at times for her parents.  Many people take this program and extend it out all week.  We strictly use it as supplement -- I have all my curriculum picked out, outside of CC that I want to keep using.  Whatever she learns and retains there is icing on the cake.  It is nice to, at least, have science and fine arts once a week.  Sometimes these go by the wayside here.  They do hands on science experiments, and that NEVER happens here.

I am "tutoring" this year, as that is what they call the teacher.  We had to get there early so I could set up the board.  I had grand plans to take beautiful first day of school pics, but I have decided that young kids are the worst subjects.  I started with James -- bad idea.  Then Olivia -- bad idea, again.  In a time crunch, I scrapped pictures for later in the day.  We ended up taking them inside the beautiful gym with that horrible gym lighting.  UGH.  Oh, well.  At least the sun wasn't in their eyes?